CA1165748A

CA1165748A - Synthetic chemical absorbents

Info

Publication number: CA1165748A
Application number: CA000378006A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Hans-Erich Gubela
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-05-22
Filing date: 1981-05-21
Publication date: 1984-04-17
Also published as: DE3176900D1; EP0040821A1; NO811717L; US4769084A; EP0040821B1

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A method of absorbing bases, acids, alcohols and radioactive liquids using phenol resin foamed plastic particles. The size of the particles should lie between about 0.25 and 70mm. They may be powdered open-celled or close-celled. They may be treated with an acid for absorbing a base, or with a base for absorbing an acid. A preferred use is in the form of packing material. The particles may be disposed in the form of of powder or flakes in liquid-permeable padding. The padding may be composed of a plastic web, in particular a nylon web, or of a non-woven fabric.
As packing material the phenol resin foamed plastic may be in the form of sheets, blocks, cubes, tablets, balls or fragments.

Description

~ 1~5748 _BAOKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of porous, hardened synthetic resin plastics obtained through the condensation of aminoplastic-or phenoplastically-formed compounds and aldehydes for the cleaning of organic solvents, which had been used as wash liquid for textile fabrics, is known from German patent DE-PS 1 132 545. For this purpose the foamed plastic acts as a filter, which absorbs the grease, odorous substances and finishing preparations washed by these solvents from the fabrics, but not the solvent cleaning agents themselves, in particular carbon tetrachloride, trichoroethylene, tetra-chloroethylene, benzol or benzene.
It has also already been suggested to use ground formalehyde resin or phenol resin foamed plastic for the absorbing and binding of oil, benzene, fat or other such chemical substances.
For purposes of catastrophe protection and other such necessary cases, to prevent acids or bases from doing harm, acids for example will be treated with sodium carbonate and thereby neutralized. This treatment with sodium carbon-ate makes it possible in many cases to add too much soda, whereby an excess of chemical caustic is then present. The neutralized product is bound by means of inorganic substances having h-igh absorption capacity. These inorganic substances with highabsorptioncapacity resulting from their containing a plurality of fine porous cells are e.g.
perlite, kieselguhr or vermiculite. The treating of a base with an acid or an acid with a base requires in addition to knowledge of chemical procedures a great deal of caution and accuracy, so that no dangerous reactions occur. Various products appear, depending on the chemicals to be neutralized, including dangerous or hazardous fumes.

~ 1 _ ~ 165748 Until now neutralization or setting of hazardous acids and bases by inorganic high porosity materials, such as the mentioned perlite, kieselguhr or vermiculite, have the further disadvantages that these materials cannot be destroyed or are destroyed only with great difficulty, since they are not combustible at customary combustion temperatures, in particular being not combustible without residue. Thus upon their subseq-uent storage or deposition the material, furthermore containing absorbed substances, as a result of the effect of water upon the substances which were initially absorbed, releases these substances whereby an additional danger is present.
The present invention is thus based upon the problem of selecting a chemical adsorbent which with an extremely high absorbing volume harmlessly takes up and unbinds acids and bases and at the same time may be destroyed through combustion practically free of residue.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve this problem, the use of phenol resin foamed plastic particles is proposed for the absorptionof bases, alcohols and radioactive liquids and acids. In addition to liquids, they can also treat such constituents which are other-wise absorbable or adherable in the foamed plastic particles.
Phenol resin foamed plastic has the capacity of absorbing and binding a large plurality of various bases and caustics to a high degree, without thereby becoming corroded to such a degree that the absorbing capacity or retaining capacity of the absorbing material suffers. The acids or bases can be of both inorganic and organic types. The phenol resin foamed plastic is also excellently suitable for the absorbing of alcohols, and even for holding radioactive liquids. A homogeneous subst-ance is accordingly capable of safely absorbing and retaining J

~ 165i48 various liquids.

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, it is suggested that a phenol resin foamed plast;c for absorbing a base be treated with an acid or be provided with accumulated acid particles, whereas a phenol resin foamed plastic destined for absorbing an acid should be treated with a base or display basic elements in its hol-low spaces, so that the neutralization of the mentioned sub-stances occurs with or within the foamed plastic. Thus a phenol resin powder or granulate for an acid neutralization in particular, is advantageously mixed with calcium carbonate.
In a a further embodiment according to the presen~
invention, it is suggested that the mentioned phenol resin foamed plastic particles be used as packing material.
According to an additional embodiment of the present invention the phenol resin foamed plastic particles in the form of powder or flakes are disposed in liquid-permeable padding, which is composed of a plastic web, in 20 particular a nylon web, or a non-woven fabric. In order to demonstrate the absorbing effect of the fine-flaked phenol resin foamed plastic at room temperature in relation to particular substances and solutions, one gram of the test material is weighed into an Erlenmeyer flask (size 250 ml).
Subsequently 10 ml of the liquid to be absorbed is added and simultaneously dispersed. After a standing period of 5 minutes, ~- the contents of the Erlenmeyer flask are poured onto a wire screen wcb. The non-absorbed portion of the liquid will drip 30 off. After a drainage period of two minutes, the non-absorbed liquid portion is measured. After dripping off of the non-absorbed portion of the liquid, the loaded chemical binder , ,, ~' .

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is removed by auxiliary mecha'nical means (e.g. a blade). With higher viscosity liquids, identified ~n following Table 1 by an asterisk, a volume measurement was impractical. In these cases the addition of the liquid to be tested followed according to weight (10 9 liquid to 1 9 ch'emical binder) and only a qualitative valuation of the absorbing effect was undertaken.
With these materials it was also necessary to obtain a simultan eous mixing with the' chemical binder through mechanical dis~tri-bution with a spatula.
In each case the chemical binder, soaked with the respective test liquid, was evaluated with regard to color and quality after a storage period of 48 hours at room temperature in open vessels.
The test results are summarized in the following table.
The conversion of the tests results presented in Table I into volume and mass figures was done with the aid of literature statements concerning the packing of the absorbed liquids using as a basis a bulk density of the chemical binder of 0.15 kg per liter.

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1 ~65748 1) Evaluated 5 minutes after addition

2~ Upon addition of acetaldehyde there followed~heating ~up to about 35%C) and gas formation The test results show that the chemical binder of powdered phenol resin foamed plastic has alhigh abosrbing and binding capacity in relation to bases and caustics, alcohols and esters, as well as solvents and salt solutions.
The phenol resin foamed plastic to be powdered can be in the form of closed cells, since upon pulverization the cell borders of the pulverized portion will be opened. It is particularly advantageous for the phenol resin foam to be open-celled, since like a sponge it will have a very high absorbing capacity.
The grain size of the phenol resin foam particles is practicable within the range of about 0.25 to 70.0 mm; there-under should also be understood fragments, pieces, bars or sheets.
The phenol resin foamed plastic particles are not required to be powdered. They may be cut as sheets or bars.
Small balls may also be considered for use, in particular hollow balls of phenol resin, which are character-ized also as micro-balloons (flasks).
The novel features which are considered characteri-stic for the invention are set forth in particular in the app-ended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with addit-ional objects and advantages ~hereof, will be best understood from the following description oi` specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.
BRIE~ DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
~ig. 1 is a perspective view representation of a padding;

~ r " ~ ~65748 FIG. 2 shows a packing schematically in vertical sectton, FIG. 3 shows another packing in vertical section;
FIG. 4 shows a modified padding; and FlG. 5 shows another packing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
According to FIG. 1 the padding 10 is composed of two layers of a nylon web or a fleece, which is turned up about edge 11, and in which the borders 12. 13 and 14 are bound.
When dealing with a web of plastic, the binding of the borders follows advantageously through the use of pressure and heat.
~ When dealing with a fleece, the binding of the borders follows ; preferably through use of adhesives. Inside these two layers a powdered or flake-formed phenol-resin foamed plastic is present.
; FIG. 2 shows a container 15 with a flask 16, in which for example hydrofluoric acid is disposed. Inside the contain-er 15 the flask 16 is packed and protected by a plurality of paddings 10, lOa containing the phenol derivative.
In FIG. 3 the flask, which for example contains a plant-protecting agent, is packed and secured by particles 17 .
of the phenol resin foamed plastic.
FIG. 4 shows a padding 10 or similar casing. wall 18 of which, jn register, for example, with flask 16 in FIG. 2, is composed of.a liquid-permeable material, such as e.g. non-woven fabric or a web of cloth or plastic or a perforated plast1c foll, whereas the opposite side 19 is composed of non-liquid-per~eable material, e.g. a plastic foil. As in FIG.
.. .. .
'~ 30 3, particles 17 represent the phenol res1n foamed plastic, although ~here in powder or flake-form.

~ In FIG~ 5 the shaped bodies 17a and 17b of phenol .. ,.,~ .
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~ 16~7~8 resin foamed plastic are adapted to the.contour of flask 16, which is to Be protected.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of adsorbents dif~ering from the types described above.
Whi1e the invention has been illustrated and des-cribed as embodied in a phenol resin foamed plastic adsorbent, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Method of absorbing bases, acids, alcohols or radioactive liquids, comprising contacting said bases, acids, alcohols or radioactive liquids with phenol resin foamed plastic particles and then destroying said particles with the absorbed bases, acids, alcohols or radio-active liquids.

2. Method of absorbing bases, acids, alcohols or radioactive liquids, comprising contacting said bases, acids, alcohols or radioactive liquids with phenol resin foamed open-celled plastic particles, said particles having a size from about 0.25 to 70 mm.

3. Method of absorbing bases, acids, alcohols or radioactive liquids, comprising contacting said bases, acids, alcohols or radioactive liquids with phenol resin foamed open-celled or closed celled plastic particles, said particles being powdered or fine flaked.

4. Method according to claim 2, wherein said phenol resin foamed open-celled plastic particles have been treated, covered or mixed with an acid for absorbing a base, or with a base for absorbing an acid.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein said phenol resin foamed open-celled plastic particles have been mixed with calcium carbonate.

6. Method according to claim 4, wherein said phenol resin foamed, open-celled plastic particles are used in the form of packing material or as packing material.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein said phenol resin foamed open-celled plastic particles are used disposed in liquid-permeable padding.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein said padding is composed of a plastic web.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein said plastic web is a nylon web.

10. Method according to claim 7, wherein said padding is composed of a non-woven fabric.

11. Method according to claim 7, wherein only the side of said padding facing material which is to be packed is liquid-permeable, the other side of said padding not being liquid-permeable.

12. Method according to claim 6, wherein said phenol resin foamed open-celled plastic particles are first pressed into shaped bodies of a chosen shape with the use of a binding agent, prior to use.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein said binding agent is a phenol resin.

14. Method according to claim 4, wherein said phenol resin foamed open-celled plastic particles are first formed into sheets, blocks, cubes, tablets, balls or fragments for use as packing material.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein said phenol resin foamed open-celled plastic particles are used encased in a liquid-permeable plastic web or non-woven fabric.

16. Method according to claim 4, wherein said phenol resin foamed open-celled plastic particles are used as packing material, as shaped bodies adapted in form to material which is to be packed.

17. Method according to claim 16. wherein said phenol resin foamed open-celled plastic particles are used encased in a liquid-permeable plastic web or non-woven fabric.

18. Method according to claim 4. wherein said phenol resin foamed open-celled plastic particles are used as packing material and are disposed in a partition wall of a packing.

19. Method according to claim 18, wherein the sid of said partition wall of said packing facing material which is to be packed is liquid-permeable.

20. Method of absorbing bases, acids, alcohols and radioactive liquids, comprising contacting said bases, acids, alcohols and radioactive liquids with phenol resin foamed plastic particles.

21. Method according to claim 1, for absorbing inorganic or organic bases and acids, wherein said phenol resin foamed plastic particles have a particle size from about 0.25 to 70 mm.

22. Method according to claim 1, using powdered open-celled or closed-celled phenol resin foamed plastic.

23. A method according to claim 20, using powdered or fine flaked closed celled phenol resin foamed plastic.